When Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the world was unaware of the plans he had in store. He quickly set out to build a Nazi empire across Europe and, ultimately, worldwide domination. However, his ambitions came to a screeching halt in 1945 after his forces were defeated by the Allied powers. But what would have happened if, instead, Adolph Hitler and his forces had won the war? Only with hindsight can the full impact and consequences of such a victory by Nazi Germany have been fully understood.
The world would have become a highly oppressive place if Adolf Hitler’s vision had come to fruition. He established a regime with strong militaristic, racist, nationalistic and nationalist ideals, and a heavily regulated economy. His expansionism was aimed at creating a Greater German Reich in which all of Europe would be populated by a single race and culture, with himself as its leader. This would have had disastrous consequences, allowing the persecution and extermination of millions of Jews and other minorities, as well as wider destruction of the European region.
Hitler’s success in winning the war would have led to Germany dominating Europe, and a Third Reich state may very well have become a superpower if the war had ended differently. His aggressive military strategies and psychology of total control would have led to him launching a devastating bombing offensive against the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, in an effort to gain global dominance. This would have caused immense destruction, destruction of infrastructure, cities, and lives.
Hitler’s Nazi regime would have also created a new type of society, one characterized by labor camps, concentration camps, censorship, and propaganda. The amount of influence he had over his own citizens would have been terrible and his iron fist would have been felt throughout Europe. It’s likely that this would have caused social unrest, economic hardship, and political instability in Europe, leading to repeated wars and a heightened risk of terrorism.
In addition, Hitler’s victory would have brought about an alteration of the decades long Cold War between the U.S and Soviet Union, resulting in a military buildup of armaments and weapons of mass destruction on both sides. We would be facing another arms race and a possible nuclear world war for the control of Europe, Middle East, and North Africa.
Moreover, the world would have been deprived of the technological and medical advancements that have enabled us to revolutionize the way we live and work. Many of the world’s foremost thinkers, scientists, and entrepreneurs were persecuted by the Nazi regime and would have undoubtedly been prevented from making key contributions to the world. Finally, Hitler most likely would have succeeded in exploiting vulnerable countries and people, leading to immense economic hardship and exploitation.
Impact on Education and Culture
Under the rule of Adolf Hitler, there would have been a great emphasis on Nazification in the education system. The Nazi regime would have used the education system to brainwash and reinforce its ideology, influence the way young people thought, and indoctrinate them in Nazi principles. The Nazi Party would have further sought to create a sense of superiority amongst German youth and make it a central value of their society to support Hitler’s policies and uphold his vision.
Cinema, literature and performing arts also would have been under the jurisdiction of the Nazi perspective. Nazi ideology would have penetrated establishments dedicated to artistic expression, with performers, writers, and filmmakers being commanded to abide by the principle of glorifying Hitler’s rule and his ambitions. Should they have failed to do so, they would have been subjected to censorship and possibly even imprisonment. History could have also been re-written, with the political correctness of free speech being heavily restricted.
Impact on Religion
The Nazi totalitarian government would have had a chilling effect on the freedom of religion if Hitler had won the war. The Nazi regime was known for its oppression of religious freedom and its persecution of non-Arian faiths, including Christianity. Under his leadership, Christianity, Judaism and other religions would have been outlawed and replaced with Nazi ideology. Nazi symbols and authorities would have been substituted into places of worship where religious symbols once stood. Perhaps most disturbing of all, Hitler would have likely taken an active part in destroying places of worship and books of faith.
Impact on Food Supplies and Resources
The scarcity of food supplies, raw materials, and natural resources in Nazi-controlled areas would have been felt by all. All lands controlled by the Reich would have been systematically drained of resources in support of the Nazi war effort, driving up prices of food and everyday items, and making food shortages a norm. Displacement, exploitation, and over-exploitation of natural resources would have only made things worse.
The Nazi food system would also have had a negative effect on people’s health. The amount and quality of food would have been regulated, with a certain ration given to each citizen depending on their race and rank. People in Nazi-controlled countries would have been exposed to malnutrition due to lack of access to certain foods and vitamins. People were also expected to work harder than ever before and wages were heavily taxed to finance the war efforts.
Economic Policy
Under Adolph Hitler’s rule, a self-sufficient economy different from the rest of the world would have been created. The Nazi economy was largely concentrated on heavy industrial production, with a focus on the military. The government would have strived to make all aspects of the economy and society efficient and productive, while at the same time drastically limiting the freedom and autonomy of businesses, laborers, and consumers. This would have further strengthened Nazi control of the economy, allowing it to remain a sole beneficiary at the expense of individuals and businesses.
While the Nazi government aimed to create self-sufficient economies and autonomy in Europe, its success in remaining economically powerful and independent would have been hindered due to its reliance on foreign trade, resources, and labor. The state would have been driven to exploit war and slave labor and monopolize industries, leading to a drop in quality and safety of the goods it produced and forcing people to buy those inferior products. In the long run, this would have proved damaging to the economy.
Impact on Minority Groups
As leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler’s bigotry, racism and malicious intent was targeted toward minority populations across Europe. Hitler’s plans of expansion would have only furthered the targeting of minority groups in the process of creating a mono-racial nation. Jews, Slavs, and other non-Arian ethnicities would have been subjected to imprisonment, torture, or worse. These atrocities, coupled with the disenfranchisement of those groups from owning land, businesses, receiving fair wages, having access to education and living in safe communities, were bound to have had a devastating long term psychological and physical impact on individuals, families and communities.
The mass extermination of minorities by Nazi Germany is documented as one of the most inhumane acts in human history. If Hitler had won the war, the same fate would have been inflicted upon millions of innocent people. This would have significantly disrupted the cultural diversity of Europe, the loss of which would still be felt in present day.
